Rotterdam’s Breakbulk Volumes Remain Steady

By Simon West

The port of Rotterdam has posted a slight increase in breakbulk throughput in the first nine months of the year, despite a slip in overall freight volumes.

Rotterdam, billed as Europe’s most versatile breakbulk hub, said total throughput in the breakbulk sector — which includes roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) and other breakbulk cargo — for the nine months ending September increased by 0.2% year on year to remain at a steady 24 million tonnes.

Excluding RoRo, breakbulk edged up 1.1% to 4.6 million tonnes, driven by monopile deliveries, steel pipes for the Porthos carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative and a rise in throughput of steel plates for offshore operations.

RoRo itself slipped 0.1% as volumes to and from the UK have yet to rebound, although the last six months have shown signs of recovery, the port noted.

The rise in breakbulk handling came amid a 2.6% fall in overall freight throughput to 320.2 million tonnes. Despite higher agribulk, crude oil, LNG and container volumes, throughput of iron ore and mineral oil products declined.

“Although total throughput volumes showed a slight decline in the first nine months of this year, developments in areas such as container throughput and the throughput of renewable fuels confirm the resilience and strategic value of the port of Rotterdam,” said Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority.

“At the same time, European industry is still under enormous pressure, which underscores the need to continue investing jointly in innovation, sustainability and logistical efficiency.”

The port of Rotterdam is host port for Breakbulk Europe 2026.